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New Glasgow service gets autism friendly
Simple improvements help to make a stress-free environment for children with special needs
A new paediatric service that aims to take the fear factor out of a trip to the dentist for young patients with special needs has been offi- cially opened in the east end of Glasgow. Public Health Minister Michael
Matheson cut the ribbon at the surgery within Bridgeton Health Centre, which has been specially redesigned to provide a more welcoming and calming environ- ment to patients with conditions such as autism. Debbie Connel ly, heal th
improvement senior for oral health, along with her colleague Lyndsay Ovenstone, senior dental officer, came up with the idea after noticing an increasing number of autistic patients attending the paediatric service. They decided to try and do all they could to make the experience as stress-free as possible. Debbie explained: “Children
with autism like routine and find unfamiliar settings very daunting. In a new environment they tend to experience a sensory overload
as they cannot process the sheer volume of new information. Not only is this upsetting for them, it is also incredibly distressing for their parents too. “We therefore decided to modify
the environment at the centre to meet the needs of autistic children and offer reassurance to their parents, and the results are fantastic.” Simple touches such as foot-
prints on the floor leading to the chair, a DVD player that can show favourite cartoons, a projector displaying distracting and calming lights on the walls and ceiling, as well as talking books to give the children an idea of what to expect, have all been introduced. Stephanie Johnstone, whose
three-year-old daughter Char- leigh is on the autism spectrum, explained what a difference the new surgery has made. She said: “For the first time I can take my daughter to an appointment on my own without the support of another adult because Charleigh is so relaxed there. The talking books
From left: Stephanie Johnstone, Michael Matheson and Debbie Connelly
“Usually taking her anywhere new is hugely distressing for us all, but that’s not the case at the centre”
in particular are wonderful. By working through the book before Charleigh’s first visit she was prepared for her trip and didn’t find the centre at all daunting. “Usually taking her anywhere
new is hugely distressing for us all, but that’s not the case at the centre. Charleigh rarely speaks in public but on her last trip to the dentist she spoke and played happily with the staff – it really is absolutely fabulous.”
News
Record number of registrants
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION
Exactly 55 years after the first meeting of the General Dental Council (GDC), the number of dental profes-
sionals on the regula- tor’s registers has broken through the 100,000 barrier. As of 4 July, there were 100,001 names registered with the GDC, consisting of 38,252 dentists, 46,793 nurses and 7,011 techni- cians. Dental hygienists made up the next largest group with 5,900 registered, followed by 1,709 thera- pists, 170 clinical dental technicians and finally 166
orthodontic therapists. Scottish dental profes- sionals make up nearly 10 per cent of the total, with 9,796 registered with the GDC. Of these, 3,685 are dentists, 4,774 nurses and 628 technicians. There are also 547 hygienists, 130 therapists, 22 orthodontic therapists and just ten clinical dental technicians. The male-female split in Scotland is relatively even
when it comes to
dentists, with 1,966 male clinicians compared with 1,719 female.
However, the male- female split in terms of nurses – 22 compared with 4,752 – means that the total number of dental professionals registered in Scotland is overwhelm- ingly female, with 7,265 compared with 2,531 male dental professionals.
Scottish Dental magazine 7
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